Families

BASIS Independent McLean’s (BIM) Parent Community Association (PCA) hosted its 2nd Annual International Day to celebrate cultures around the world and in the school community. The PCA transformed BASIS Independent McLean’s cafeteria, the Great Hall, into five continents: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. The event brought together students, parents and faculty to celebrate the school’s diverse community. For more information about BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com/.

“This is a great first community event of the new year because it brings families from all grades together in celebration of the diversity of our families and different cultural traditions,” said Ron Kim, head of school of BASIS Independent McLean of McLean, Va.

Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria, Va. will present their annual MSA Nutcracker on Fri., Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 2 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.at the Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Cultural Center, Annandale Campus at 8333 Little River Turnpike. Nutcracker ticket prices range from $26 to $28 and can be purchased online at www.metropolitanarts.org.

Audiences can join Clara and her Nutcracker in a magical journey from her Victorian home through the Land of Snow and into the Land of Sweets. The performance features a larger-than-life Christmas tree, more than 100 dancers, and Tchaikovsky’s glorious score.

Jacob Anderson, 11, a student at Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria Va., is making his national tour debut in the U.S. National Tour of Matilda The Musical. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Dodgers, the blockbuster musical named TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year, is on tour in select U.S. cities, now through June 25, 2017. Anderson of Fairfax Station, Va. plays the part of Nigel Hicks in the U.S. National Tour of Matilda the Musical. He’s been studying at MSA since 2014. For more information about the school, go to www.metropolitanarts.org, or view http://us.matildathemusical.com/tour/ for tickets.

“Being part of Matilda the Musical is a dream come true for me, said Jacob Anderson, Metropolitan School of the Arts’ student of Fairfax Station, Va.

The BASIS Independent McLean MATHCOUNTS team placed first in the MATHCOUNTS state championships in Richmond, Va.; its first time participating in the annual statewide MATHCOUNTS competition. BASIS Independent McLean MATHCOUNTS members include: Austin Feng (8th grade), Joshua Fu (8th grade), Pravalika Putalapattu, (7th grade) and Ethan Zhou (6th grade), and are led by Coaches Tyler Sullivan and Rikki McCullough, s BASIS Independent McLean math teacher. MATHCOUNTS state champions head to the 2017 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Orlando, Florida in May. For more information on BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

Wil Haygood, author and associate producer of the blockbuster film, The Butler, will present at BASIS Independent McLean on Fri., Mar. 10 from 6:30 pm to 8 p.m., to talk about writing and how his work launched him onto the world stage. The event is free and open to public, located at 8000 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Va. Haygood will also be available for a book signing, as his two books will be available for sale; The Butler and his latest book, Showdown, which chronicles the battle of the Supreme Court nomination of Thurgood Marshall. For more information on the event, go to http://basisindependent.com/Haygood.